On The Stage

Epilogue

Goodbyes are hard. I didn't think that Aurelia with tears in her eyes would hug me with all her might, cursing my name, when I was already standing in the main hall of the house with my packed suitcase by my leg. Apolonia, in saying goodbye, of course, all she did was offer her hand in a gesture of kissing that hand. I found that as a farewell I could do that for her. It did not cost me anything and maybe Apolonia would have at least one nice memory with me. Luna was also crying. She told me to take care of myself and to keep her informed about my life in Petersburg. I wished her a quick recovery and assured her that I would keep her informed about everything. Bobby didn't cry. He thanked me again for keeping his secret and wanted to start again on the subject of the ten thousand crowns. Luckily Pyra and Myra had saved me from my predicament. The two maids must have also got used to me, because it was obvious that they were sorry. The only person I didn't say goodbye to was Kevin.

The day before I left, the man packed up and left for Karkarom without a word. Well, he had a right to do that. Maybe one day the boy will realize that his love for me was not healthy. Maybe one day he will look in the mirror and think that what he was doing was characterized more by obsession than sincere affection. Maybe that was the reason it didn't work out for us? I know I shouldn't be thinking about this. However, I couldn't stop my thoughts. I still cared about him, but for his sake I had to cut myself off from him. The boy would look for some sort of solution until the last minute. He would try until the last minute to convince me to stay with him against everything and anything. His obsessive love for me would destroy him. For the rest, it had already begun to happen. As his scales began to tip our relationship over other, much more important issues. Kevin gave me many signals that his psyche was becoming dependent on me, but I didn't see it until it was too late. If he hates me then well...everyone has to deal with the pain somehow. Don't think I'm making Kevin crazy now. It's just that young men need to learn how relationships are built. What are the foundations on which you build love, and on which you build a relationship. The basics that Kevin offered me while beautiful, had no real meaning in the real world.

Everyone carries a hole in their heart now after what happened. It's not just me, Kevin and Rayan. Luna, Aurelia, Apolonia, Gregory, and Catleyn also have that cavity in their hearts. As for that last couple I mentioned, things really weren't looking good.

Gregory, Catleyn and Buck drove me to Kosevo to board a plane that would take me to Petersburg, from where I would be picked up by Vasyli Rostov, grandson of Apolonia Von Rostov's uncle. Catleyn, on the other hand, was to get on a plane that would take her to the United States. It is quite poetic that the place where it all began, the airport in Kosevo City, is now the place where my adventure in Hight Water ends. I said goodbye to Gregory the way I said hello. It was a simple, warm handshake.

I won't say I regret anything, because that would be a lie. After three years, however, some things begin to blur. Some wounds, however, remain open. You learn to live with them. You learn to accept your life decisions and the fate that has befallen you. Was I happy? Well, happiness is a fleeting thing. One day you can be happy and the next day not. However, I could be proud of my achievements so far. I was doing what I love, I was very successful in it. Still, I never forgot about Hight Water and the people I left behind. In those three years, my foot never set foot in that place or country. This, of course, meant that contacts began to blur. People with whom I had a lot of feelings were slowly being lost. They lost their shape and remained only in my memories. Despite that I look into my past with a smile. Although after some time I didn't know what was going on with my former loved ones, they remained in my heart forever.

After these three years, Hight Water has made its presence known only once. I received news of the funeral of Apolonia Von Rostov. Of the death of the woman who had brought me to where I was now. It was rather romantic that the she-wolf died on the same day as King Theorian V. A week-long national mourning was declared throughout the country, which was currently ruled by the centre-left with Andy sitting in parliament. Well, Apolonia is probably with her beloved now and doesn't care whether her funeral will be lavish or not.

My mother also received the news of Apolonia's death. The woman had lived separated from her husband for many years, unable to completely sever her relationship with Gregory. I felt a little sorry for her, although she never showed any sadness. Every time I visited the United States during the Christmas holidays, Catleyn avoided the subject of Hight Water. Well, maybe that was her idea, of dealing with her demons of the past.

I wondered if three years was a long enough time to visit the old country. The death of the Iron Lady, Apolonia, seemed like a great opportunity to do so. I could try perhaps to meet up with old friends? I would see if Aurelia had finally picked up Bobby and if Luna had managed to recover from her illness. Maybe meet up with the guys? Well, it's been so many years... Maybe it's time? However, that's another story.